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Published on: November 29, 2024
Insulin resistance in idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy: a possible etiologic link
Ronald M Witteles1, W H Wilson Tang, Aamer H Jamali
1Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305-5406, USA.
Insights
Patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDCM) show higher rates of abnormal glucose tolerance and insulin resistance. These metabolic issues may be reversible, offering potential treatment avenues for IDCM patients.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Endocrinology
- Metabolic Syndrome
Background:
- Insulin resistance is a known risk factor for mortality in heart failure (HF) and ischemic cardiomyopathy.
- The specific relationship between insulin resistance and idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDCM) is not well-defined.
- Understanding metabolic derangements in IDCM is crucial for patient outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify the prevalence of abnormal glucose tolerance.
- To determine the incidence of insulin resistance in patients diagnosed with IDCM.
- To investigate the link between metabolic abnormalities and IDCM.
Main Methods:
- Screened 230 patients from a university HF clinic for IDCM, excluding diabetes and major comorbidities.
- Conducted oral glucose tolerance tests on 43 eligible IDCM patients.
- Compared glucose and insulin responses in IDCM patients against 40 healthy, matched volunteers.
Main Results:
- IDCM patients exhibited significantly higher plasma glucose responses post-glucose challenge (p < 0.01).
- Elevated plasma insulin concentrations were observed in IDCM patients following oral glucose intake (p < 0.01).
- Abnormal glucose tolerance was significantly more common in IDCM patients (49%) compared to controls (23%, p < 0.05).
Conclusions:
- Insulin resistance and abnormal glucose tolerance are highly prevalent in individuals with IDCM.
- These metabolic derangements in IDCM may be potentially reversible.
- Identifying and addressing these metabolic factors could improve management strategies for IDCM.
Objectives:
This study was designed to quantify the prevalence of abnormal glucose tolerance and insulin resistance in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDCM).
Background:
Insulin resistance is an independent risk factor for mortality in patients with heart failure (HF) and is a known risk factor for ischemic cardiomyopathy. Though potential physiologic links between insulin resistance and HF have been hypothesized, the relationship between insulin resistance and IDCM remains unclear.
Methods:
A total of 230 consecutive patients from a university HF clinic were screened for IDCM, the absence of diabetes mellitus, and the lack of significant co-morbid conditions. Oral glucose tolerance tests were performed in the 43 patients with IDCM who met these criteria, and their plasma glucose and insulin responses were compared with those of 40 healthy volunteers, matched for age, gender, and body mass index.
Results:
Plasma glucose responses were higher during the oral glucose tolerance tests in patients with IDCM (p < 0.01), associated with significantly higher plasma insulin concentrations following the oral glucose challenge (p < 0.01). In addition, abnormalities of glucose tolerance were significantly (p < 0.05) more common in patients with IDCM (49% vs. 23%).
Conclusions:
Insulin resistance and abnormal glucose tolerance are more prevalent in patients with IDCM and represent potentially reversible metabolic derangements in these individuals.
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